Description
Imagined Cities
Book Summary
A collection of eighteen short stories that explore the relationship between the real city and the city as dreamt, remembered, or feared. Each author builds their own metropolis based on memory, desire, or tropes, demonstrating that every city is, ultimately, a personal invention. An anthology that invites the reader to reflect on how collective imagery and individual experience transform the spaces we inhabit.
What is it about?
The starting point is a thought-provoking premise: objective cities do not exist. Each person constructs their own version of a metropolis, whether because they have lived in it, yearn for it, or have never been there at all. Based on this idea, the eighteen authors of the 21 x 21 collective offer a multifaceted look at the concept of the city. The stories move through recognizable settings and purely fantastical ones, combining daily experience with literary invention. The result is a mosaic of young voices that delve into identity, displacement, nostalgia, and the ability of fiction to redefine urban space.
Main themes
- The subjectivity of urban perception and personal memory.
- The city as a literary and symbolic construction.
- Displacement, nostalgia, and the affective relationship with places.
- The diversity of perspectives within the same generation of writers.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers interested in contemporary short fiction in the Catalan language, especially those who enjoy anthologies that bring together diverse voices. Also for those seeking a literary reflection on urban identity and the way in which we imagine and remember cities.
What this book offers
- A representative sample of current young Catalan narrative, with varied styles and approaches.
- An original approach to the urban story genre, far removed from traditional costumbrismo.
- An invitation to question one's own perception of the spaces we know or desire.
Technical specifications
- Author: VARIOUS AUTHORS
- Publisher: COSSETANIA
- Language: cat
- Subject: SHORT STORIES
- Collection: NARRATIVE
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: October 2005
- Number of pages: 160
- Weight: 265 g
Editorial review
An anthology that fulfills the dual purpose of giving visibility to new talents and offering the reader a set of stories cohesive through a powerful thematic thread. The variety of registers and approaches enriches the reading, although the brevity of some pieces may leave the reader wanting more development. It is a work recommended for anyone who wants to discover emerging voices in Catalan literature and reflect on the imaginary nature of cities.